The event marks Santiago’s first action since his October release from the UFC.

“I can’t wait to fight for Titan on March 2 and to show everybody that ‘The Sandman’ is back and more dangerous than ever before,” Santiago stated in an official release. “I train with the best coaches and some of the best fighters in the world. I’ve never felt better or more ready, and at Titan Fighting 21, I’m going to make a fight nobody will forget – especially Leonardo Pecanha.”

Titan Fighting Championship 21 takes place March 2 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The evening’s main card airs live on HDNet.

Santiago, the former Sengoku middleweight champion, in 2011 returned to the UFC for the first time in five years. The Brazilian went winless in bouts against Demian Maia and Brian Stann and was released from the promotion.

Prior to the disappointing octagon stint, Santiago had put together an 11-1 run.

Meanwhile, Pecanha fought just once in 2011, earning a first-round submission win over Matias Ezequiel Lemon. That followed a busier 2010, in which the second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt went 3-1. The lone loss in that span came in a Bellator Fighting Championships 22 clash with Tyler Stinson.

Pecanha is 6-1 in his past seven overall fights.

The official Titan Fighting Championship 21 lineup currently includes: